NEW YORK – Rapidly climbing energy prices stalled this week as a steady stream of dismal financial news suggested that even if the global economy has bottomed out, it will be some time before demand for crude rebounds.

Benchmark crude for June delivery dropped $2.28 to settle at $56.34 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Since the start of May, oil prices have jumped by nearly $8 a barrel as it appeared the worst of the recession was over.

But a string of forecasts showing a larger drop in world oil consumption sent prices downward to end the week.